Urgent security alert: text phishing scam

tyr_shadowblade

tyr_shadowblade

Gold Member
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Jan 3, 2006
Messages
12,690
Over the past week a number of cellphone users have been getting bogus text messages purporting to originate at their credit union, providing a toll free number that they need to call ASAP regarding their account. The two I've seen are as follows:

note@cuwesttext.org

Credit Union West urgent security notification: unusual activity. toll free call 800-657-6034

AND


SooperCU

Please call us immediately at 1-877-320-5602 regarding recent restriction placed on your account. Thank you.


A friend called the second number and after a long delay was routed to a wireless connection with an automated system requesting that she input her debit card number. She hung up and called me.

Thought y'all should notify folks about this, and perhaps of our federale forumites can bust these scammers. :mad:
 
The first tip that it's a scam should be the fact that it's a text message. NO ONE will ever send important information through a text message or email. If it's real and it's important, they'll call.
 
This same scam appeared in this area about 2 weeks ago. A few people lost money, but the credit unions made it right.
 
I also received several of those text messages.

My credit union says if they need to reach me offically, it will be by snail mail, asking me either to come in to the office, or by calling them at the number listed in the phonebook.

People need to use common sense, and think before acting on scemes like this.
 
This is called "SMiShing," and it's a relatively new means of scamming your personal info. I wrote a column about it for my Technocracy gig a couple of weeks ago.
 
My bank doesn't even have my cell phone number, so that would sorta be the first clue to me that something funny was going on. And think about it for a minute: Why would you even need to give your bank your cell phone number? I can't think of a single reason.
 
Never ever respond to emails, text messages or telephone calls. If the bank wants to make contact, like Mike said they will mail you via snail mail. I say telephone calls aswell because the scammers are sending fake phone calls regarding credit card debt management.

I never carry a balance on the credit card, yet I get the scammers calling offering all kinds of help to deal with my credit card debt. Well heck, I don't carry any balances and havn't paid a penny of interest in years.
 
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